Baripada: In a significant crackdown on illegal wildlife trade, officials from the Gurguria Wildlife Range under Similipal North Division apprehended two wildlife traffickers red-handed while they were transporting common hill myna chicks on the Gurguria-Jashipur main road near Badsole village in Mayurbhanj district.
Acting on confidential intelligence, a special team was formed and dispatched to intercept the suspects. The operation, carried out with precision, led to the seizure of two live hill myna chicks, which were being carried in a bag on a motorcycle in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Mana Dehuri (40) of Matiagarh and Atul Chandra Behera (56) of Gurguria, both under Jashipur police limits. After interrogation, the accused were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Baripada on Sunday and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
Similipal North Division Deputy Director Sai Kiran confirmed the arrest and emphasized that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found guilty of exploiting or trafficking protected wildlife species. The common hill myna, known for its mimicking ability, is a Schedule I species, which grants it the highest level of protection under Indian wildlife laws.
Forest officials have intensified vigilance in and around Similipal, which remains a target zone for illegal bird and animal trafficking due to its rich biodiversity. Investigations are underway to determine whether the arrested persons are part of a larger smuggling network.
